Packer



June 22, 1937.

C. S. CRICKM ER PACKER Filed July 23, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l C. S. CRICKMER PACKER June 22, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1936 Patented June j 22, 1937 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 'Packen Charles S. Crickmer, Dallas. Tex.

Application July z3, 193s, serial No. 9,2,233 11 claims. (ol. iss-12)This invention relates to new and useful improvements in packers. e

.One object of the invention is to provide an improved packer which isparticularly adapted for use in supporting an insert pump within thewell casing, although it may be used as an ordinary well packer.

An important object of the invention is to provide `an improved wellpacker which is arranged to be set within a well casing and which isprovided withv means for locking the packer in its Aset position,whereby the maintenance of the packing seal is assured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved packerincluding a resilient packer element which is supported by a slip cone,and a member slidable through the cone for expanding the element, withmeans for locking said member and cone to each other after the elementhas been gosetwhich prevents the packer from being jarred or otherwiseaccidentally loosened from its set position.

' A further object of the invention is to provide an improved packerincluding gripping slips slidable on a slip cone, the slips and conebeing so constructed that there is a co-,action therebetween whichsecurelylocks the cone to the mandrel of the packer when said packer isin a set position.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- 30 vide an improvedpacker having improved means for drainingl the fluid from above thepacker when it is desired to remove said packer from the well casing.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

'I'he invention will be more readily understood from a reading of 'thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,inv

40 which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper portion of a packer, constructedin accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a continuation of Figure 1, and

lshowing the lower end of the device,

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the parts shown inFigure 1,y

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the parts shown inFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the upper end ofthe'packer and showing the mandrel in a raised position,

Figure 6 is a.- horizontal, cross-sectional view,

takenonthelineB-iofFigureL y Figure 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectionalview, taken on the line 'I-1 of Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 8,-8of Figure 2.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a 5 tubular mandrel which hasits upper end threaded at I I to receive the lower end of a couplingcollar I2. The upper end of the collar I2 is internally threaded asshown at I3, whereby the lower end of a pump barrel A, may be securedthereto. The 10 lower end of the mandrel Illis threaded at I4, wherebysaid mandrel may be connected to the well tubing (not shown). A recoveryring I5 (Figure 3) is formed'on the mandrel I0 and is located nearer thelower end thereof. 15

A slip cone or head I6 surrounds the mandrel III and has its lower endsupported on `:he recovery ring I5. The cone is provided with an annulartaperedrecess II in its upper portion, and this recess receives thelower end of an elongate elastic packing member or element I8. Theelastic packing element surrounds the mandrel and is slidable thereon,the upper end of said element being tapered to lit within an annularthimble or retaining cap I9 which is also slidably 25 'mounted on themandrel. The thimble or cap I9 is provided with an annular upset ange 20which normally engages an annular recess 2l formed in the underside ofthe collar I 2 (Figure3) With the above arrangement, it will be seen ,othat the cone i6, packing element I8 and thimble I5 are supported on themandrel by the recovery ring I5. These parts are all slidable withrelation to the mandrel and it will be seen that when the cone I6 isheld stationary or locked within the well casing B, a continued downwardmovement of the mandrel I0 would cause the collar I2 which is inengagement with the thimble I9, to force said thimble downwardly withrelation to the cone. Thiswould cause the packing element I 8 to bemoved to its expanded position into engagement with the well casing B asis clearly shown in Figure 3. For reinforcing the packing element I8 andalso for causing an equal packing seal throughout the length of thepacking element a plurality of reinforcing rings I 8' are molded withinthe packing element. The provision of these rings will cause the packingelement to beexpanded as shown in Figure 3 whereby the eifect of aplurality of packing elements, instead of a 1 single packing element, isobtained.

For locking the cone I6 in a stationary position inthe well casing, aplurality of slips 22 are provided, and each slip includes grippingteeth 22' on. its outer surface. 'I'he slips are slidable vertically onthe cone I6, and due to the inclination of said cone are expandedoutwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the well casing B asthey move upwardly on said cone. For supporting each slip 22 in positionon the cone a flat spring member 23 is provided. The member 23 has itsupper end extending into a v recess 24 formed in the rear face of theslip 22,

being pivoted on a pin 25 which extends through said slip. The member 23is also pivoted on a pin 26 which extends across a slot 21 formed in asleeve 28, which sleeve surrounds the lower end of the mandrel. I'I'hemember 23 extends downwardly within the slot 21 in close proximity tothe mandrel I0 and the extreme lower end of the member 23 is bent uponitself so that said member then extends upwardly in engagement with thewall of' the well casing B. The curve 23' which is formed at the lowerend of the member 23 rests against the inclined bottom 21 of the slot 21(Figure 4). The extreme upper end 23a of the member 23 is then bentinwardly to engage the member 23 at a point between the pins 25 and 26asis clearly shown in Figure 3. With this arrangement, it will be seenthat the single member 23 not only forms the link by which the slips 22are attached to the sleeve 28, but also provides friction springs Cwhich at all times, contact the inner wall of the well casing.

For holding the slips 22 in their retracted position while the device isbeing lowered into the well casing, the sleeve 28 is provided with apair of J -slots 30 which are located diametrically opposite each otherat the lower end of said sleeve (Figure 2). Radial pins 3| which aresecured to the tubular mandrel I0 extend outwardly into the slots' 30.It will be seen that when the pins 3| are located in the horizontal leg30' of each J-slot, that the sleeve 28 is locked to the mandrel I0 andwill move therewith. When said pins are in such position, the slips 22are at the extreme lower end of the cone I1' and are thus, retractedfrom the wall of the well casing.

When the device has been lowered to its proper position within the wellcasing, it is only necessary to rotate the mandrel I8 in a clockwisedirection (Figure 8), so that the pins 3| are moved into alignment withthe vertical legs of the J-slots. When this is done downward movement ofthe mandrel I8 is continued, and said mandrel moves downwardly throughthe sleeve 28, because said sleeve is being held stationary by thefriction springs C secured thereto. Since the slips 22 are directlyconnected to the sleeve 28 by the members 23, it will be obvious that asthe sleeve is held stationary, the slips 22 will also be stationary.Therefore, continued downward movement of the mandrel I0 will cause thecone I6 to ride downwardly within the slips l22, thereby expanding saidslips into engagement with the wall of the Well casing B.

After the cone has been locked in position as I `above explained, theweight of the mandrel and the parts thereabove will move said mandreldownwardly through the cone so that the thimble I9 at the upper end ofthe packing element I8, will expand said packing element into engagementwith the well casing, as is clearly shown in Figure 3. After the packinghas moved into its sealing position, it will be obvious that the entireweight of the device is carried by the slips 22 and there is altendencyfor the cone to be moved downwardly within the slips which are, ofcourse,

in engagement with the well casing B.

The cone I6 is provided with aplurality of the packing has moved intoits' engagement with l, the well casing B, any further downward movementof the cone within the slips 22 will cause the cone to be reduced indiameter. 'I'his reduction of diameter of the cone I6 will cause :theinner periphery of-{said cone to frictionally engage the outer-surfaceof the mandrel I8. Wheri this occurs, itl will'fbe obvious that' theconeJr will be rigidly andA securely clamped to the mani" drel and thusth cone and mandrel are locked to each other.

the packing element I8 due to the vibration or jarring action of thepump, will` be obviated. In other words,l by clamping the cone aroundthe mandrel, it is. impossible for the packing element to be disengagedfrom the casing wall unless a.v comparatively strong upward pull on themandrel is had. This is advantageous because the. vib'ration incidentalto the pumping action is sumcient to break the seal of the packingelement and therefore, with the arrangement above described, the packingis more or less locked in its set position.

When it is desired to remove the packer from the well casing B, it isonly necessary to exert an upward pull on the coupling collar I2 at theupper end of the mandrel. This immediately causes the mandrel to moveupwardly through the cone, packing element I8 and thimble I9. It is wellknown that after an elastic packing element has been set within a wellfor some time, the outer periphery or packing surface of said elementwill adhere or stick to the wall of the well casing. Therefore, as themandrel moves upwardly the thimble I9 and packing element I8 will retaintheir packed position as shown in Figure 3. This causes the upstandingannular flange 20 at the upper end of the thimble I9 to be disengagedfrom within the recess 2| in the lower end of the collar I2. Continuedupward movement of the mandrel permits uncovering of a port 33 which isprovided in the mandrel I0 below the screw threads II. When this port isuncovered, it will be obvious that the fluid above the packing elementI8 may pass between the collar I2 and thimble I9 and escape through theport 33, and then downwardly through the tubular mandrel I0. Thisrelieves the load or weight of the iluid above the packing element I8and a continued upward pull on the mandrel will permit easy removal ofthe entire device from the well casing B.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A well packer including, a mandrel, a packing element surrounding themandrel', a cone slidable on the mandrel 4for supporting the packingelement, means for distorting the element into packing position, andmeans for frictionally clamping the cone to the mandrel after thepacking element has been set, whereby said element is retained in itsset'position.

2. A well packer including, a mandrel, a packing element surrounding themandrel, means for supporting the packing element in position on saidmandrel, means for distorting the packing element into packing position,means for frictionally clamping the mandrel to the element supportingmeans after said element has been distorted, whereby said element isretained inA its set position, and means for draining the fluid fromabove the packing element when the device is being raised.

3. A well packer including, a mandrel, a packing element surrounding themandrel, a cone slidable on the mandrel for supporting the packingelement, means for distorting the element into packing position, meansfor frictionally clamping the cone to the mandrelafter the packingelement has been set, whereby said element is retained in its setposition; and means for draining the fluid from above the packingelement when the device i's being raised.

4. A well packer adapted to be lowered into a well casing including, amandrel, a slip cone slidable on said mandrel, an annular packingelement having its lower end supported in the cone, means on the upperend of the mandrel engaging the upper end of the element, whereby theweight of the mandrel maybe placed on said element, means for lockingthe cone within the well casing to preventl further downward movementthereof, whereby the mandrel slides through said cone and the weight ofsaid man- .drel distorts the element into packing position,

and means for frictionally clamping the cone to the mandrel after theelement is set.

5. A well packer adapted tobe lowered into4 a well casing including, amandrel, a slip cone slidable on said mandrel, an annular packingelement having its lower end supported in the cone, means on the upperend of the mandrel engaging the upper end of the element, whereby theweight of the .mandrel may be placed on sai-d element, means for lockingthe cone within the well casing to prevent further downward movementthereof, whereby the mandrel slides through said cone and the weight ofsaid mandrel distorts the element into packing position, means forfrictionally clamping the cone to the mandrel after the element is set,and means on the mandrel for engaging beneath the cone so that an upwardpull on said mandrel will raise' the cone and packing element to permitremoval of the device from the casing.

6. A well packer adapted to be lowered into a well casing including, amandrel, a slip cone slidable on said mandrel, an annular lpackingelement having its lower end supported in the cone, means on the upperend of the mandrel engaging the upper end of the element, whereby theweight of the mandrel may be placed on said element, means for lockingthe cone within the well casing to prevent furtherk downward movementthereof, whereby the mandrel slides through said cone and the weight ofsaid mandrel distorts the element into packing position, means forfrictionally clamping the cone to the mandrel after the element is set,means on the mandrel for engaging beneath the cone So that an upwardpull on said mandrel will raise the cone and packing element to permitremoval of the y device from the casing, and means above the packingelement for draining fluid from abovev said element as the same islifted in the casing.

'7'. A well packer adapted to be lowered into a well casing including, amandrel, a slip cone slidthe weight of the mandrel may be-pIaced on saidelement, a plurality of slips slidable vertically on the surface of thecone, whereby when said cone moves downwardly with relation to the slipsthe latter are moved into engagement with the casing, means for movingthe slips downwardly in theirretracted position with the mandrel and lcone, means for engaging the slips with` the casing to prevent furtherdownward movement of said cone, whereby the weight of the mandrel isplaced on the packing element to distort the same, and means forfrictionally clamping the cone to the mandrel after said element hasbeen set.

8. A well packer adapted to be lowered into a well casing including, amandrel, a slip cone slidable on said mandrel, an annular packingelement having its lower end supported in the cone, means on the upperend of the mandrel engaging the upper end of the element, whereby theweight of the mandrel may be placed' on said element, means for lockingthe cone within the well casing to prevent further downward movementthereof, whereby the mandrel slides through said cone and the weight ofsaid mandrel distorts the element into packing position, and means forreducing the diameter of the cone whereby said cone frictionally clampsto the mandrel after the element has been set.

9. A well packer adapted to be lowered into a well casing includin'g, amandrel, a slip cone slidable on said mandrel, an annular packingelement having its lower end supported in the cone, means on the upperend of the mandrel engaging the upper end of the element, whereby theweight of the mandrel may be placed on said element, a plurality ofslips slidable vertically on the surface of the cone, whereby when saidcone moves downwardly with relation to the slips the latter are movedinto engagament with the casing, means for moving the slipsdownwardly intheir retracted position with the mandred and cone, and means forengaging the slips with the casing -to prevent further downward movementof said cone, whereby the weight of the mandrel is placed onthe packingelement to distort the same, the cone having a plurality of verticalslots therein whereby after the packing elementl is set and the weightabove the cone forces said cone further between the slips engaging thecasing, said slips act to reduce the diameter of the cone tofrictionally clamp the cone tothe mandrel.

10. A well packer adapted to be lowered into well casing including, amandrel, a slip cone slidable on said mandrel, an annular packingelement having its. lower end supported in the cone, means on the upperend of the mandrel engaging the upper end of the element, whereby theweight of the mandrel may be placed on said element, a

' plurality of slips slidable vertically on the surface of the cone,whereby when said cone moves downwardly with relation to the slips thelatter are moved into engagement with the casing, means for moving theslips downwardly in their retracted position with the mandrel and cone,means for engaging the slips with the casing to prevent further downwardmovement of said cone, whereby the weight of the mandrel is placed onthe packing element to distort the same, the cone having a plurality ofvertical slots therein whereby after the packing element is set and theweight above the cone forces said cone further between the slipsengaging the casing, said slips act to reduce the diameter of the coneto frictionally clamp the cone to the mandrel, and means on the mandrelfor engaging beneath the cone so that an upward pull on said mandrelwill raise the cone and packing element to permit removal of the devicefrom 'the casing.

11. A Well packer adapted to be lowered into a well casing including, a.mandrel, a slip cone 5 slidablel on said mandrel, an annular packingelement having 'its lower end supported in the cone, means on the upperend of the mandrel engaging the upper end 'of` 'the element, whereby ingto prevent further downward movement oi' said lcone, whereby the weightof the mandrel is placed on the packing element to distort the same,

the cone having a plurality of vertical slots therein whereby after thepacking element is set and the weight above the cone forces said conefurther between the slips engaging the casing-said slips act to reducethe diameter of the cone to frictionally clamp the cone to the mandrel,means on the mandrel for engaging beneath the cone so 10 that an upwardpull on said mandrel will raise the cone and packing element to permitremoval of the device from the casing, and means above the packingelement for draining uid from above said element as the same is lifdinthe casing. 15

CHARLES S.y CRICKMER.

f i theweight of the mandrel may be placed on said ;'0 element, aplurality of slips slidable vertically on "f the surface of the cone,whereby when said cone moves downwardly with' relation to the slips thelatter" are 'moved into engagement with the casing, means for moving theslips downwardly 15 in their retracted position with the mandrel andlcone, means for engaging the slips with the cas-

